clutch slipping questions

[bumpermatic]

Hi,

Okay, I'm learning to drive a stick on a 240sx and so far have logged bout 10-20 miles practicing shifting and what not. Well the last two times I drove, I noticed a smell...kinda of like rubber burning, but even worse, it's hard to describe. I believe it was the clutch that was burning.

So today I went to drive it again, and it seems that the clutch is slipping (I think). I mean, I can engage the clutch, put it in 1st gear, let the clutch completely out and not give it any gas and the engine will continue to idle rather then die, and the car will not move. If I rev it up to 3k-4k the car will slowly move forward.

Now it was an old car to begin with, and since this is the first time I've driven stick, I didn't know what symptoms to look for and what not, and since I'm learning, I had a feeling I'd wear it out a bit, but I didn't think it would break this quickly.

So what to do next?

Can anyone give me which direction to go with diagnosis and repair? I.E. start with the transmission fluid, then check this, then check that...etc etc...

TIA

[NISTECH]

nothing to check take out the trans and put a new clutch kit in and have the flywheel surfaced. you burnt yours out. It was probably about worn out when you first got the car. you just helped burn the rest off due to your inexperiance with sticks. no big deal just replace it. when you were driving it you were letting the clutch pedal all the way out between shifts right??? keeping your foot on the pedal in partial depression is what causes them to burn.

[bumpermatic]

Well, 1st gear was pretty ugly for me. For some reason I wanted to let out the clutch completely and quickly and kept stalling. Between gear shifts, I would clutch completely in, shift, and gave it a bit of gas as I was letting the clutch out. That was probably where I burned it out at higher speeds, yes no? But in first gear, I can creep with the clutch partially engaged right? I'm guessing that's just a no no at higher speeds?

TIA

[NISTECH]

in first gear you slowly let out on the clutch, as you accel you should let it out all the way. this takes less then 2 sec's then quick in, shift, quick out between all the other gears while accelerating. you can look forward to shifting with out a clutch once you get used to your car and can speed match your shift points. I only use the clutch in first gear anymore. and occasionally on down shifting.

[Kavkazia]

You're clutch is burned like it was said before, make sure you dont try to drive it away from your place or else, you'll get stuck.

I burned out my clutch today too, I burned it until it stopped and wouldnt even roll..

[Japican]

An old trick my dad taught me to tell if ur clutch was goin out. In nuetral pull ebrake up and put ur car in 1st gear slowly let off clutch w/out givin it gas, if ur car stalls then clutch isnt that bad, but if ur clutch engages and ur motor keeps runnin than u kno ur clutch is slippin.

[bumpermatic]

Yea I pretty much did just that, didn't pull the ebrake, but let the clutch out completely in first gear, no gas, and it idled just fine. Two more questions:

Without a place to work on this, I'm gonna have to go to a mechanic to have this taken care of, does anyone have a general idea how much this will cost at a shop? I know the OEM parts run around $115-$150, and I'm gonna call around the local shops, but perhaps someone can give me a heads up of when I'm getting ripped off.

I'm pretty sure it's a burnt clutch, but are there other problems that have symptoms like this?

TIA

[Japican]

I bought my stock clutch for round 120 bucks

[dareo]

the stink of a burned clutch is kindof like burning beef jerky, or burning a slimjim. its nasty! my friend did me the service of killing my motorcycle clutch and it stank from 20 feet away. No biggie i just opened her up and put in a new one. grips like grim death now.

[GTR-33]

you can look forward to shifting with out a clutch once you get used to your car and can speed match your shift points. I only use the clutch in first gear anymore. and occasionally on down shifting.

Isn't that bad for the syncros in the transmission? I can do it, but I heard it's bad for the syncros...

[gunclap]

Isn't that bad for the syncros in the transmission? I can do it, but I heard it's bad for the syncros...

rev matching is good.

[NISTECH]

Isn't that bad for the syncros in the transmission? I can do it, but I heard it's bad for the syncros...

yes if there is a annoying crunching noise associated with it.

"If ya cant find 'em grind 'em"

[Altiman94]

I do the same as nistech. Only need the clutch for 1st gear. No grinding here.

[dbhittin]

another problem u might have, u could be resting your foot on the clutch pedal and when u give it gas, the rpms go up and u dont move, ive done that a few times and though my clutch was out. And who ever said when u smell your clutch burning doesn't mean its out, cause i burn mine all the time power braking and pilling out alot and it still grips like a champ

[Candymans240sx1]

An autorepair place called PepBoys around here does the clutch for $300 not sure if the $130 clutch was included or not. Hope this helps...call around